Chapter Forty-Three

***Vienna***

There are many memories I wish to forget from this boat. Memories from a long time ago, when I was a dark and heartbroken person. I don’t mind that Keiran and my brothers' magic is going to blow it up.

“Wait,” the Offering says from across the bottom deck of my vessel. “You’re going to let me destroy your boat?”

I hadn’t said the sentiment out loud, but my brother warned me about this offer. That she has powers that let her look into people’s minds, with or without her knowing.

There were warnings about this river, too. Not to let her touch it.

I pour a long drink on the table before us for the Offering, then myself. She lifts it to her lips eagerly, and I mirror the same.

“A long time ago, I stole this ship from some of my enemies from Third Isle,” I start, taking a slow sip.

Remi’s lighter blue eyes, brighter than any other Offering’s, widen with curiosity. She has a cute button nose, a face that would make any pirate's heart soften if it weren't so guarded. I make a joke to myself that she has more than enough people in her life attracted to her. Still, there’s something compelling about her, something that draws you in.

“I was under the command of Captain Reardon, a bastard who thought he could control everything and everyone. One night, we anchored near the Third Isle, a place notorious for its hidden treasures and deadly traps. Reardon had a map, and he was obsessed with finding the Dragon's Eye, a gem said to grant the bearer unimaginable power.”

The gentle lapping of the river against the hull provides a rhythmic background to my tale. We're moving steadily down the river between the mountains, and I can sense we’re getting closer to the waterfall.

“What happened?” Remi asks, leaning forward, eyes gleaming with interest.

“I undermined him, of course,” I say with a rough laugh. “Waited until he was drunk, then stole the map and led a mutiny. We found the treasure alright, but it came with a curse. Ended up losing most of the crew, including Reardon. The lesson? Deceive others to find hidden treasure, but be prepared to end up alone.”
Remi's eyes suddenly glow white, interrupting my story. Her face contorts then slackens. The air around us thickens with magic.

“Oh, what the fuck?” I stand up suddenly, dropping my rum. The Offering does not look good, she looks possessed by the river itself.

“Boys!” I shout, my voice cutting through the tension.

They rush in, faces etched with concern. All four of the males move to touch her, to help her, but Kallias gets there first, as he always does. Rhodes will always put Kallias first, Xaden will put himself first, and Keiran his crown, so Kallias has the most space to love her.

I pause for a second at my words. Holy shit, are my little brothers truly in love?

The sparkle in Kallias's eyes, and the glare in Rhodes's suggests that they are.

“Remi, speak to me,” Kallias urges, his voice strained with worry.

She nearly stops breathing, and begins to choke. Seawater, from the river, begins to come out of her mouth. Xaden glances out the window, as if he’s going to fight the body of water itself, then back at us.

“We’re near the edge. Keiran, prepare to winnow,” he says urgently.

He’s right. We’re close.

A pirate can tell when they are near their death.

“She needs help,” Kallias says, “we need to take her off!”

“There’s no time now,” I say to them, bringing a washcloth to Remi’s mouth. “We’re about to–”

We begin to freefall. The roar of the waterfall grows deafening. I’ve seen the height of this waterfall from the ocean’s cove. We only have ten seconds, maybe fifteen, at best.

Remi suddenly wakes up and shouts, “Wait, don’t winnow to the Lands Once Lost!”

Keiran prepares to winnow to where he believes his magic is, his eyes glowing with determination.

“Stop!” I shout, “Listen to Remi!”

“The Witches were lying to you!” she cries out. “Go to my home–”

We’re going to hit the bottom. We’re going to all implode.

Just before we’re about to hit the bottom, a magic portal flares to life before us. The ship around us begins to implode, but before it collapses entirely, Keiran’s magic engulfs us, and we are pulled through the portal in a flash of light.